Trench excavator for digging and preparing trenches



Fb. 23, 1932. G PQWELL 1,846,902

flRENCH EXCAVATOR FOR DIGGING AND. PREPARING TRENCHES Original Filed 001 6, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F eb. 23, 1932. P ELL 1,846,902

TRENCH EXCAVATOR FOR DIGGING AND PREPARING TRENCHES Original Filed Oct. 6, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 23, 1932.

e. e. POWELL 1,846,902

TRENGH EXCAVATOR FOR DIGGING AND PREPARING TRENCHES Original Filed Oct. 6, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTO Patented Feb. 23, 1932 U ED' A S "Gnome e. rev/Eat; on NEW Yon-K, N. x.

mnnnc'n ExcAviiTon ron. nreeme AND rnErAnrNG'rREn-cHEsf v rAp plica tion filed October 6, mieaseriai 1%.. 139,385. Renewed liqvember 30; 1931.

This invention relates to a trench excavator and the method of digging and preparing atrench. 1 a The first object of the invention is the pro- 5 duction ofan excavator for cutting trenches and the like and delivering the material excavated therefrom upon both banks ofthe trench. V The second object of 'thQ'lIlVBDtlOIl is the production of a trench excavator comprising self contained cutting and delivery mechanisms. The third, objectof the: inven- 1 tion is the production of an excavator, whereby the material excavated is discharged therefrom by centrifugal force. The fourth objectof the invention is the production of a trench excavator, whereby all, the material excavated can be wdeliveredto one or both banks of the trench produced. The fifth object of the invention is the production of means'whereby small volumes'of material are handled rapidly and continuously to obtain alarge working capacity; The sixth object of the invention is the production of a trench excavator whereby thewidth and depth of the "trench produced may be varied. A seventh object of the invention is the provision of means whereby clearanceforthe cutter and delivery wheels of the excavator, is provided to permit the excavator to cut its way at a'declination from the surface, to the depthof trench to be maintained and means to restore the said wheels to their normal position. An eighth object of the inventionis the provision of means, whereby the trench excavator can cut its way to the surface of the ground from a trench at an inclination. A ninth objectfof the invention is the provision of means for gauging and maintaining the trench excavator at a desired depth; The tenth object of the invention is the production of means whereby the bottom and sides of'the trench are compacted and hardened. An eleventh object of the invention is the provision of means to support the 'trench excavator upon a single supporting "and gauge wheel; 'A twelfth object of the invene tion are the means to maintain the trench excavator inits proper horizontal and lateral 1 positiomandatthe same time allow anunrestricted and controlled vertical movement of forwardend of the trenchexcavator to which the same. 7 The thirteenth object .of the invention is. the productionof means in a trench excavator whereby the entire trench face,

several times the combined area of the faces 7 *of the cutting and delivery means, is de seventeenth object of theinvention is the provision of means whereby the undercut face of a trench isforced equally into the delivery mechanism. An eighteenth object of-the invention is the provision of means to cut grooves in the sidesand bottom of a trench being'excavated whereby the' entire contents of the same are undercut parallel with the line of the trench being an entire outline of the said trench. The nineteenth object of the invention refers to the method of digging and 1 the steps in preparing a trench. A twentieth 8D object of the invention is the production of a trench excavator whereby all the supporting and operating mechanism thereof. is confined within the outer lines of. the cutting, conveying and delivery means thereof, at any 3 depthatwhich the said excavator may be operating.- -A twenty-first object of the invention comprises a trench excavator, mounted I upon its individual truck, with a supporting gauge wheel traveling'uponfthe bottom of the completed trench, said trench excavator being' operated from its individual-motor, in dependently of the power of the standard type 'of tractor, that travels upon the surface of the ground in advance of the trench excavator, the tractor preferably of the crawler type, provides traction and support for the it is 'detachably connected.

20 machine with its tractor attached, andin op- Other objects will be apparent from the following specification and claims.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a rear end elevation of the trench excavator throwing the material excavated to both banks thereof Fig. 2 indicates a similar View and modification showing the excavator throwing the material to but one bank; Fig. 3 shows arear en'd view of the excavator with the wheels F, raised above the ground surface; Fig. 4 represents a side elee vation of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 indicates a plan view of the truck tilting element; Fig. 6a hori- V zontal section of the displacing blade and of the. casing cover; Figs. 7 V and 8 indicate aside and top view of the wheel spacers; Fig. 9 shows'a plan'view of the insideor top of the wheels F; Fig. 10 a section through the center-of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a detail; Fig. 12 indicates aperspective'view of the complete eration; Figs. 13 and 14 comprise details of Fig. 9; Fig. 15 is aside elevation of Fig. 5 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 16 represents-areal end 'view of the excavator showing details and section of the wheel Gr; Fig. 17 represents shaft 20. A gear casing 21 extendsfrom the front lower end of the housing A; The said gear casing 21 is triangular in' cross section.

and is indicated with the top wall 'or roof 22 and the inclined side walls 23. From each of the walls 23 extend the similar journal bear ings 24 for'the inc-lined main shafts Roller bearings 26 and 27 are seated 'inthe journal bearings 24 for the shafts 25. At the upper ends of the shafts arefastened' the worm wheels 30. The worm wheels 30'ha've formed therewith the normally vertical edges 30a, which are in rolling contact during their revolution and maintain them in pro-per po sition. A detachable cover '31 is fastened to the front end of the gear casing 21. Journal bearings and 36 are formed with the cover 31. Lugs 37 extend from the cover -31Ia'nd support the. V shaped displacing blade40 centrally disposed on the forward faccs'there of by means of the screws--41. The shaft 20 is journale'd at one end in the-journal hear; ing 35 and has fastened thereto the pinion 44. worm shaft is located in the gear casing 21 and has its ends'journaled in the journal bearings 36 and46 in the gear casing 21. vA spur gear 47 is fastened to the worm shaft 45 and meshes with the pinion .44. A

worm 50 is integral withthe worm shaft 45 andmeshes with the worm 'wheels 30. An

nular plate 63. Channel bars radially extend from the inner face of the annular plate 63. A reinforcing ring 66 -is fastened to the outer ends of the channel bars 65. Inclined knives 70 are supported in in'c'lined slots 71 formed in the ring 66 and the annular plate 63'. The outer ends 'iofjthe knives 70 are all located in 'a'circle' struckfrom'the center of the shaft 25, and extend beyond the ring 66 and the plate 63'as indicated zit/70a andfOb. T he bars 65 with the plate 63 f'ormthe compartments'T 2. The truck B comprises the platform 7 5 which supports the housingA', the

motor C, having the'radiator 7 6 and thegear casing 21 already described." Two pairs of bracep'lates 8O and'81 extend .from'the lower 5 face of the platform 75. Pairs of angle irons 82 extendfrom the platform 7 5 and arei'fa'stened to the plates 80 and'81. Each pair of angle irons 82 are connected at their lower ends by the closing bar 85." Across bar 86 is supported upon the platformf75; A pair of vertical screws 87 are shown with the'shanks' 88. The'shanks 88 extend through the open.- ings in the cross bar 86. To theupper ends of the shanks 88 are fastened the sprocket wheels 89. Collars 90 are formed with the shanks 88 "and support. the roller bearing cages 91, having roller: bearings not shown.

A sprocket stain-92001111 0155 the sprocket wheels89. Albracket extends from the cross bar 86. An operating'sh aft 96 has its lower end ournaled in the bracket 95 and at its lower'end has fastened thereto the collar 97. A bracket 98 extends'ifrom the upper portion of the radiator '26? for the shaft 96. Y

An operating hand wheel 100 is fastened to the top end of the shaft 96. A sp'rocket'wheel 93 is fastened to the uppergend of oneof the shanks 88, and a sprocket chain 103 connects the wheels 101 and 93. r A gauge wheel. is indicated in its entirety by the" letter G. It is indicated" with the hub 107 inwhichare located the roller tiretyby the letter H, is supported in said Y roller bearings. Theshaft' H coniprise sthe male body portion 111 having the threaded end 1'12 and has formed therewith the guide A bracket 113. The bracket 113.is provided with the opposite 'guide'faces'114,;the projectinglflangesl;115, the guide lugs'116 and the threaded opening-118and'the annular recess 119. Thelofemale body portion of the shaft is indicated at12Q'which sleeves over bearings 108. An axleindicated in itsent 7 flanges 132. The said hub is in threaded en the maleb'ody portion 111 and engagesthe recess 119. With the portion;120 .is formed a bracket 113a similar to 113, having [guide faces 114a similar to 114, projecting-flanges 115a similar to 115, the guide'lugs 116a similar, to 116 and the threaded opening 118a similar to 118 is in threaded "engagement with the bracket113a. Two pairs offangle irons 82 bear againstthe guide faces 114 and 114a, and the screws 87 are in threaded engagement with the threaded openings 118 and 118a.

Aneyebolt 124 is indicated with the threaded portion .125 andshank 126. The said .bolt 124 is hinged to the lugs 53 by meansof-the pin 127. An operatinghand wheel 130 is indicated with the interiorly threadedhub 131 and the latter has extending therefrom the of parallel bars 143 similar 130.142. To'the froiit ends of the pairs of bars 142 and-143 are hinged a spacer bar .145 similar to 140, by

means or" the pins 146 and147r The'spacer bars 145 form part of a standard tractor. I and are attached to therearend oftheframe 1 15a, and supported by the brace11 15b, fastened by the bolts 145a and pins 146 and 147 l to the tractor frame 1 15a, forming a triangular truss.

:In Figs. 7 andi8 isfindicated a spacer,.one of wh ch may be used for each of the cutting and delivery wheels, to space thewheels dif ferent distances apart to produce trenches ot d fferent width. Eachspacer in this instance is indicated-to comprise the sleeve 150'with the male'flange15'1' at oneend and the female flange 152 at the other'end. The spacers are located in. position by separatingthe annular plate from the hub 55, The female'flange is bolted to, the flange 56 of thehub' '55 and the male flange 151 is bolted to the plate GO. By. the use of the said spacers, wheel's" F larger in diametenmay be used; Itwill be noted that the circular plate or disc 60 to which is riveted the annular plate- 63, is smooth and its outer edges are tapered in a manner to bring thenralmost flush with the annular plate 63, it will be noted that the outer extension TOaof the knives are within. the line of the said disc 60. The purpose of this arrangement is thatthesaid discs 60 tit snugly into the trench as excavated by the said wheels F, and rotate withtheisaidwheels being integral'with' the'same. By this i means the truck B is steadied andheld firmly in position'and due to the rotation of the said 7 discs 60. the banks of the trench as out are smoothed and compressed, and where moisture is present, the sald banks are pu'ddled and. compacted due to this rotation and to the side thrust and stresses transmitted to the wheelsfF,"and to the discs '60 thereof by the reason of the threshing about of the tractor I, on the more or less uneven ground upon the surface of Which the tractor I which ispartially' shown in Figs. tand 5, travels in advance of the trench excavator, and said stresses transmitted-laterally by the superposed parallel bars 142 and 143. Thegauge wheel G. compacts and puddles the bottom of the trench, therebythe said trench is prepared to prevent' erosion, etc. Where -suflicient moisture may not be present to puddle the sides and bottom'rof the trench,w'ater maybe supplied for the purpose, after the wheels F have dug in to the desired'level, the gauge wheel G maybe manipulated to increase the weight on the wheels F, that are-partlysup ported upon the rotating discs 60f thereof.

The'said gaugewheel Gmay be'fianged on its sides to assist in compactlng the lower portions of the trench walls, making'the trench,

more efiicient'for irrigation and drain'a-ge purposes. The plates 60 may be adjusted to in. crease or decreaseits bearing upon, or not to touch the sides of the-trench as and when cut.

To, operate the trench excavator it'is.

broughtin 'ro'oero erative o'sitionb means s 1 of the tractor I, which travels upon-the sur t'aceof' the roun'din advance of the trench excavator, and providessupport for the front end of the trench excavator and traction for the same. In this'instance'the' Fig. 40f the drawings show a side viewof the entiredevice,"t he'wheels F shown raised above'the sur- 7 face otthe ground. and suspended'between the gauge wheel in the rear and the tractor I at its forward end, the rear portion only of the tractor Ibeing shown. It will be noted that the tractor l provides support and traction for the device, the mechanismoi' the trench excavator being operated by itsindividual motor'C.

' The hand wheel 130 is'turned to'shorten the distance between the pinsl127 and 137, by

means of which the truck Bis inclined,swinging on the axis of axle H. By this Ineansthe wheels are swung down torwa'rdlvr The motor C is now started which'revolves the wheels-F, the hand wheellOO is now turned which raises the gauge wheel Guntil the The tractor-I is now started and the hand wheel 1 wheels F reach and enter the ground.

100 further manipulated to bring the bottoms of the wheels F in alignment with the gauge wheel G, and in parallel relation with the inclination of the frame 75 of the truck B.

This; arrangement provides for a maximum reached, the wheel 130 is turned to'bring the truck B audits frame 7 to their normal horizontal position, and at the same. time, the hand wheel 100 is turned to bring the bottoms of the wheels F and the wheel G into horizontal alignment, and the truck 13 with its appurtenanceswill cutahorizontal trench at a level, or at any desired grade by means of the gauge wheel G being manipulated or set for such level or grade.

It will be noted that the parallel bars 142-143 attach the tractor I to the forward end of the truck B. By means ofthe'spacer bars 140 and 145, that are similar and are supported as shown. The said spacerbars are always maintained in parallel vertical, relation to each other, and the said parallel bars 14214c3 allow an unrestricted vertical movement of the truck B and its appurtenances,

atthe same time maintaining the said truck Bjwith its frame 75 in a horizontal position, irrespective of any changing depth while cutting a trench at a maximum depth, or when the said truck is upon the surface of the ground as shown respectively in Figs. 3 and 4. Y 1

' When it is desired to cut out of a'trench, from the depth at whichthe excavator has been operating, the hand wheel 100 is turned to bring the auge wheel G below the bottom of the wheels F and. the-wh'eels'F and the truck B of which they are a part, cuts its way tothe surface ofthe trench in a gradually narrowing trench asthe wheels F near the surface, and in'reverse to their entrance, which was in a trench more narrow in the rear and-widening as it descended. In riding out of a trench, no manipulation of the wheel 130 .is'necessary, nor is the angle of ascent restricted, except by that of thepower of. the tractor to draw the truck Band its cutting loads up this incline. The cutting and delivery wheels F are suspended between the tractor I forward, and upon the single gauge wheel G' in'the rear, the said wheelaG controls the raising and lowering of flanges 56 of the hubs of the main shafts anddelivery Wheels F are bolted to the 25. The hubs 55'are fastened to the shafts when needed or to cut trenches of varying width at a definite depth. The Wheels F each comprise the annular disc 60 which bolts to the flange 56 of the hub 55, the annular plate 63 riveted to the inner face of the discs 60, the channel bars 65 radially disposed upon riveted. thereto, the reinforcing ring 66 riveted'to the outer'ends of the-channelbars 65 and the knives/7O seated and fastened in the inclined'slots'l' 1 in said ring 66 and annular plate 68'and that over hang the said plate 63 at 7001. and'the ring 66 at'70b. H I

The wheels F revolve in the direction of the arrow a in Figs. 4 and 9, that is from the bottom of the trench to the surface of the ground.- The tractor I draws the truck B against the cutting action of the knives 70 of the wheels F and the material out falls into the open compartments 7 2. The wheels F cut grooves the width of the knives 7 O at each side of the trench being cut, and due to the inclination of'the wheels and'their converging at their bottoms, the trench is completely outlined and the central portion thereof is left unsupported'and falls into the open faces of the wheels F and into the compartments 72 mingle with the cuttings of the knives 70 and are carried to the surface of the ground and due to the velocity'of.

fall by-its own weight in the timeinterval necessary, a dividing or displacing blade 40, is fastened'vertically and centrally to the front of the plate 31 of the gear casing 21. This blade is V-shaped in cross-section and .8 the inner face of theannular plate 63 and i forces the'uncut central portion of the trench face equally intothe compartments 72.

The cutter and delivery wheels F are of a diameter that their upper portion protrude above and overhang the banks of the maximum depth, and due to their inclination the material is thrownat a distance from each bank bythe'centrifug'al force. The distance thrown depends entirely upon the velocity ofthe heels F, and the velocityof the wheels F depends solely upon the power of the motor C that drives the same. It is pro posed that the motor C utilize its power in revolving thewheels F, and that the tractor I be devoted to traction purposes alone. These may be combined and the whole excas vator maybe driven from but one motor.

The Y bar 135 and eyebolt 124C with their portions 125, 126, 131, 133 and 134 maintain the said spacerbar 140 in its position at right angles to the casing 21. 'The hand wheel 130, when it is desired to cut into a trench, shortens the distance between the pins 127 and 137, as before described. It will be understood that the spacer bar llO still remains in its upright position and parallel 'with the similar bar 145 by reason of the parallel bars'1 l2'-143 and that the truck alone is inclined. The said parallel barsone of the wheels F have been removed as before described and a plain disc wheel substituted. In this modification the said disc is provided with narrow knives 7O sufficientv to allow the said disc to cut its way along the side of the trench, butis not provided with conveying means hence the material of V the wholetrench' is diverted to the remaining wheel F and the whole of the material is delivered to but one bank. In the above modification shown in Figs. 11'and 12, the

knives 70, are fastened to the bent portion 71 of the web of the channels 65 and the material excavated, etc., has to slide over the knives 70, to be delivered by centrifugal force. The gear casing 21 contains the speed reducing gearsand shaft bearings to maintain them in operative contact and is water and oil tight to allow all bearings and contacts to operate in an oil bath. The trench excavator is designed to function at the nor mal traction speed of the tractor I, and to handle small quantities of material rapidly and continuously to produce a very large capacity. The parts ofthe wheels F, are integral with one another, and cut and deliver the material from a trench, direct to the banks of the trench, without the intervention ofany auxiliary mechanism being interposed between said cutting means,

conveying means and the said delivery means, 7

all such means being solidly and componently a part of th wheels F, with no hinged or articulated parts to any elementxwhatsoever of the said wheels F, nor necessary for their complete functioning. While the inclined cutting wheels normally overtopthe maximum trench, the wheels will cut a trench and deliver the material Where the said wheels barely reach the surface. Having described my invention what Idesire to secure by Letters Patent and claim is: 1. A trench excavator comprising a truck and its frame, a rearvvardlyidisposed supportinggauge wheel for the truck and frame, opposed, inclined, cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels mounted rotatively uponthesaid truck, means with their appurtenances to rotate'the said opposed in clined wheels, alltheelements of'the said excavator comprised between the outermost sides of the said opposed inclined wheels, and

cutters extending beyond'the circumferential edges and sides of the said inclined Wheels.

2. A trench excavator COIIIPI'lSlIlgfi. truck and its frame,a supporting gauge wheel centruck, a gear casing, a motor with its casing secured to the said. gear casing with its shaft extending through said gear casing, ap purtenences within said casing to rotate optrally and rearwardly disposed'for the said posed, inclined, cutting, conveying and delivery wheels the shafts of which are jour-' naled in said casing and'supported upon said truck, the forward end of said gear casing and truck 'yieldingly connected to the rear end of a tractor by means ofsuperposed parallel bars, with the said wheels suspendedbetween the tractor and the said supporting gauge wheel, and means to raiseand lower the said supporting gauge wheel.

'3. A. trench excavator. comprising a truck with its frame, a centrally and rearwardly disposed supportinggauge wheel for the V truck,means to raise and lower the said gauge wheel, opposed, inclined, cutting, conveying and delivery wheelsv Journaled in a gear casing upon said truck, a motor with its casing fastened removably secured to. said casing and means connecting said motor with- A in the said casingto. rotate the said inclined wheels, the said wheels being 'detachably'con nected to flanged hubs of theirirespective'in clined shafts in a manner to facilitate their quick placing and removal without disturb-.

ing other portions of the excavator.

1. A trench excavator comprising a truck, its frame and sup-porting gauge wheel, a gear casing with a motor and its casing removably secured thereto with its shaft extending intoand journaled in the said casing, reducing gears within said caslng connecting said motor shaftwith inclined opposed shafts jour- .naled in the walls of the casing, cutting, conveying and delivery wheels-detachably connected to. said inclined shafts, cutters disposedjabout the circumferential edge and sides of the said wheels and disposed to deliver their cuttings into the upperrearward portion of "compartments formed in said wheels, the partit ons of said compartments forming the conveying and delivery elements of the said wheels.

which comprises two inclined opposed cutbetween'a supporting gauge wheel in its cen- 5. A trench excavator, the mechanism for ld g tral lower rear, anddetachably and adjus tably supported u on a trqctoliat the forward end of said tru ck means to: raise and lower the supportifigflgauge whel, and said gauge Wheel seryin'g to compacmc'ompre ss and haiden th bottom and sides of the trench simultaneously with its. digging.

In testimo signature.

n yvwherebf I hereby aifix my GEORGE q. POWELL. 

